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CSO/RP/SC/1825/181

File of material relating to charges against Reverend Philip Johnson, magistrate of County Antrim, over his conduct at an illegal orange parade in the town of Lisburn on the 12th of July. Includes letter from Johnson, Ballymacash, Lisburn, County Antrim, to Thomas Manners-Sutton, Lord Manners, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, explaining his conduct in connection with a disturbance caused by a public demonstration of orangemen in the town of Lisburn on the 12th of July. While he admits to having an orange ribbon attached to his person on that day, he denies having sanctioned a parade by orangemen and a marching band. On the contrary, he remarks, he took every opportunity to dissuade the gathering to disperse in accordance with the terms of the Unlawful Societies [Ireland] Act, 19 July 1825. Also includes letter from Johnson to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, acknowledging a number of charges have been made to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland alluding to his alleged misconduct as magistrate of County Antrim at the period around the 12th of July. He notes the origin of the complaint is with fellow magistrates William Hawkshaw, Robert Williamson and Thomas Fulton, and requests that copies of their affidavits on the matter be forwarded to him to prepare a defence, 26 July 1825. Also includes letter from Hawkshaw, Lisburn, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, seeking a measure of clarification as to his own part in drawing attention to Johnson’s conduct in view of that magistrate’s explanation being deemed acceptable by the Lord Chancellor. He requests to know if his own actions in the matter are the subject of censure or does he have the support and approval of government, 4 August 1825.

19 Jul 1825-6 Aug 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/182

Letter from John Johnston, chief constable of police, Belturbet, County Cavan, to the Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle, requesting removal to a different station within the police establishment of the province of Ulster. He cites as his reasons for wishing to leave the lack of school facilities in the vicinity and the unsuitability of the local environment for his wife’s health, ‘the quantity of water about this place [being] inimical to her constitution’.

5 Sep 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/183

Letter from Matthew Jacob, chairman of petty sessions, Killenaule, County Tipperary, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting on an attempt upon the life of fellow magistrate Francis Despard of Killaghy Castle. Remarks he was attacked by two men who laid an ambush within a short distance of his dwelling house, but despite the discharge of gunshots, he escaped unscathed. Indicates a reward is put up and expresses a hope that government will lend their assistance in having the perpetrators apprehended. Signed by Jacob and four other magistrates of County Tipperary. Also includes a statement from John Perry alleging that the reported attack upon Despard is false and without substance. He questions the credibility of the attack and observes ‘ten men would not venture to attack’ Despard, who, he claims, ‘is always armed and known to be determined’.

21 Sep 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/184

Letter from Colonel J Irwin, magistrate, Tanragoe [Tanrego], barony of Tireragh, County Sligo, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, reporting with concern on an apparent increase in the activities of Ribbonmen in his district and a noticeable enlargement of sectarian motivated attacks on members of the Protestant denomination. Offers an extended overview of the nature of the problems and calls for a reconsideration of the relationship between the constabulary and the magistracy, in particular the liberty allowed the police to act at fairs or riots without the attendance of the magistrate; and to instigate more regular night patrols, 10; 26 October 1825. Encloses copy depositions of Thomas Carroll, parish of Dromard, relaying details of a number of attacks upon him over past weeks. Complains in the course of his duties as a bailiff to Doctor Richard Faussett of Ardnaree, while performing a distress for rent on the lands of Dromard on 11th of September 1825, he was the subject of ‘an assault, rescue and Robbery of arms’. A further attack upon him was made on 29th of September 1825, he states, as he left the fair of Coolany [Coolaney] on horseback; he notes, he was assailed by a number of men ‘who made some blows at him with sticks’ and was again attacked about a quarter mile outside the town near the foot of the mountains but escaped without injury. More recently, on the night of the 4th of October, his dwelling was raided by a mob acting under the leadership of a ‘Captain Rock’; he was given a severe beating and ordered to return to Patrick Gilgan property which had been earlier distrained and was commanded to ‘quit the Land’; he was also threatened with death if he failed to invalidate a warrant against Hugh Costelloe [Costello]; also copy of note on foot from Reverend O’Dowdican, parish priest of Dromard, Bellanaboy, County Sligo, revealing a gun was handed in following his denouncement from the pulpit of those who attacked Carroll’s house. Also encloses statement from William May alleging his was beaten at his dwelling on account of having taken a creel of turf from Gilgan; also statement from James Lynott relating details of the assault on Carroll on the 4th of October; also additional statements from Hugh May, William Linchahan [referring to an attack on him by Ribbonmen] and James Doogan. Also encloses copy statement from Thomas Clarke, parish of Skreen, complaining of an assault on his person as he left the fair of Ardnaglass on 23rd of September. Alleges he was approached by a group of [Roman Catholic] assailants who ‘struck him’ and forced him to seek refuse in the residence of Mrs Clark, a widow. Observes his safe departure was facilitated by a number of water guards ‘who came to the assistance of the Protestants and saw them out of the Fair’; also transcription of statement [beneath] on the same assault from John O’Donnell, water guard, who claims he was attacked with stones on coming to the fair, but is unable to identify the culprits; also transcription of statement [beneath] on the same assault by William Clarke of Ardnaglass, stating his mother’s house came under attack by a mob who asserted they ‘did not care for any Orange Rascal’; also statement from ‘young Scott' of Ardnaglass, who describes the pursuit of himself, his cousin and younger brother, as far as his mother’s house, which was subsequently attacked with stones, 29 September; 9 October 1825. Also encloses statement from Michael Scott, yeomanry pensioner, parish of Easky, indicating his house came under scrutiny by a party of men on the night of the 7th of October; also statement from Dennis Berry, yeomanry [pensioner], parish of Easky, recalling an attempt to gain admittance to his dwelling house by a number of men on the night of the 7th of October: both statements sworn before Reverend George Trulock, magistrate; also a further statement by Berry overleaf referring to the ‘Evil’ designs of the Ribbonmen against Protestants.

29 Sep 1825-19 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/185

Letter from TS Ireland, chief constable of police, Roscommon, County Roscommon, to Major George Warburton, superintendent general of police for counties Galway, Clare and Roscommon, calling attention to the difficulties he faces on account of the absence of local magistrates at the petty sessions of the town of Roscommon. Such irregular attendance, he complains, is a matter of considerable inconvenience to the police since suspects must be held in custody without access to a magistrate’s ruling on their case. As he has some ‘family business’ to attend to in the city of Dublin, he requests permission to take two weeks leave of absence from duty for that purpose. Encloses a copy resolution entered in the petty sessions court book of Roscommon by Arthur Browne, magistrate, expressing his dissatisfaction at the failure of fellow magistrates to attend petty sessions for the conduct of public business, and stating his determination not to further attend in person until such times as he is given support.

22 Oct 1825-30 Oct 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/186

Letter from Colonel J Irwin, magistrate, Tanragoe [Tanrego], barony of Tireragh, County Sligo, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, commenting upon a number of incidents of outrage in his locality. Refers to enclosed copies of information received by him [not present] relative to ‘Dodwill’, who is implicated in an illegal possession of a property, and seeking sanction for a strategy to remove him with his family. Also refers to the statement of ‘Wood’ which alludes to certain locations resorted to by lower orders to hold dances. In such places, Irwin remarks ‘the whole system of swearing in the Roman Catholic to the Ribbon association is carried on’. Asks if he should interfere in preventing or curtailing such late night activity or entertainment. Given the present state of the country, he expresses opinion in favour of giving authorisation to the magistrates to search for and take up any arms held illegally in the barony of Tireragh. Also remarks upon the forced removal of a firearm from a Protestant farmer by a party of night marauders who subsequently used force against a man ‘who had purchased a piece of ground, to swear him not to dispossess the present occupiers’. Also draft copy reply to Irwin relaying the substance of an opinion given by the Attorney General [William Conyngham Plunket] and the Solicitor General of Ireland [Henry Joy], on some of the matters raised [original opinion written on back of Irwin’s letter to Goulburn].

22 Nov 1825-26 Nov 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/187

Copy of the opinion of the Attorney General [William Conyngham Plunket] and the Solicitor General of Ireland [Henry Joy] ‘on the legality of Freemason and Orange Associations and Processions’. They affirm both the freemason and orange societies are illegal under the 3rd section of the 6th act of George IV and their activities ‘are likely to lead to consequences dangerous to the public peace’.

[1825]

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/188

Copy letter from William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, to Reverend [Samuel] Adams, magistrate of counties Cavan and Monaghan, Northlands, Shercock, County Cavan [post town is Carrickmacross, County Monaghan], indicating details of the case of Arthur Spotten, police constable, who is accused of shooting a man following an affray at the fair of Kingscourt, County Cavan, were placed before the Lord Lieutenant. He conveys the circumstances were considered by the law officers of the crown who state the government cannot interfere and Spotten must face a regular trial. [See also description CSO/RP/SC/1825/9].

7 Jun 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/189

Copy letter from William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, to Reverend Dr Charles Le Poer Trench, Church of Ireland archdeacon of Ardagh, Mackney, County Galway, acknowledging letter and observing that no further action is necessary relative to the issues raised in Mr Mulhern’s letter.

15 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/190

Copy letter from William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Phoenix Park, Dublin, to the Attorney General of Ireland [William Conyngham Plunket], requesting his opinion on the content of enclosed letters from [Captain Richard] Willcocks [inspector general of police] and Reverend [John] Hamilton [neither present]. He observes that Major [George] Warburton [superintendent general of police for counties Galway, Clare and Roscommon] is presently at the assizes of Roscommon and stresses it would be a loss if he is prevented attending in person the other district assizes.

17 Jul 1825

1825